Rapid pulse electrohydraulic (EH) shockwave generator apparatus with improved electrode lifetime

A capacitor-array apparatus for use in generating therapeutic shock waves, comprising:

• one or more circuit boards each circuit board of the one or more circuit boards having a first side and a second side;
• and
• a plurality of first capacitor sets coupled to the one or more circuit boards, each of the first capacitor sets comprising two or more first capacitors connected in series and arranged in a first pattern;
• a plurality of second capacitor sets coupled to the one or more circuit boards, each of the second capacitor sets comprising two or more second capacitors connected in series and arranged in a second pattern;
• where each of the plurality of first capacitor sets are connected in parallel, and each of the plurality of second capacitor sets are connected in parallel;
• and
• where the one or more circuit boards are configured to be coupled to an electrode such that the electrode is in electrical communication with the first and second capacitor sets;
• and
• where the plurality of first capacitor sets, the plurality of second capacitor sets, and the electrode simultaneously receive voltage pulses via a pulse generation system.

A method of producing a compressed acoustic wave using an apparatus for generating therapeutic shock waves, the method comprising:

• applying voltage pulses to a plurality of electrodes in a chamber defined by a housing and filled with liquid such that portions of the liquid begin to vaporize and ionize to provide an inter-electrode conductive path;
• applying voltage to a plurality of capacitors coupled to a plurality of stackable circuit boards carried by the housing and in electrical communication with the plurality of electrodes to charge the plurality of capacitors;
• and
• upon the plurality of capacitors reaching a threshold charge, discharging the plurality of capacitors to the electrodes to generate an inter-electrode arc along the established inter-electrode conductive path and thereby generate of at least one acoustic shock wave;
• wherein applying voltage to the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of capacitors is performed simultaneously.